Managing media mount operations typically revolves around responding to TSM requests for media. TSM displays mount requests and status messages to all administrative clients that have been started in console mode. Mount request messages often have a time limit. If the request is not fulfilled within the limit, the operation times out and fails.
For most mount requests, TSM detects when the operator performs the action and no operator reply is necessary. However, for some operations, TSM displays a message requesting a reply when the activity has been completed. For example, a request to mount a scratch volume requires that the operator reply when a scratch volume has been placed in the drive.
For most of the requests associated with automated library devices, TSM
cannot automatically detect when a requested activity has been
completed. For such requests, the operator must use the REPLY command
on the command line of an administrative client.
Task | Required Privilege Class |
---|---|
"Starting the Administrative Client as a Server Console Monitor" | Any Administrator |
"Displaying Information About Volumes that are Currently Mounted" | Any Administrator |
"Displaying Information about Pending Mount Requests" | Operator |
"Replying to Mount Requests" | Operator |
"Canceling Mount Requests" | Operator |
"Responding to Requests for Volume Check-in" | System or Unrestricted Storage |
"Dismounting Idle Volumes" | Operator |
"Dismounting Volumes from REMOVABLEFILE Devices" | Operator |
Administrators can display mount requests and status messages by starting the administrative client in console mode. However, if the server is started as a Windows service, which is recommended, a server console is required to see messages. To start the administrative client as a server console monitor:
To start a server console monitor from an operating system command line, enter this command:
> dsmadmc -consolemode
Operators can issue the QUERY MOUNT command to display the volumes currently mounted by TSM. The information lists mounted volumes, the drives on which they are mounted, and whether the volumes are currently in use.
Administrators can display information about pending mount requests either by checking the mount message queue on a server console monitor or by issuing the QUERY REQUEST command. TSM displays a message similar to the following:
ANR8352I Requests outstanding: ANR8326I 001: Mount DLT volume VOL1 R/W in drive D1 (MT4) of library MYMANLIB within 60 minutes.
TSM displays a 3-digit request ID number as part of the message. The request ID number can also be obtained by issuing a QUERY REQUEST command. If the request requires the operator to provide a device to be used for the mount, the second parameter for this command is a device name.
Operators must issue the REPLY command to reply to mount requests, or the server waits until the mount-wait-time has passed before resuming processing. The first parameter for this command is the 3-digit request ID number that indicates which of the pending mount requests has been completed. For example, an operator can enter the following command to respond to request 001 in the previous code sample.
reply 001
Administrators can issue the CANCEL REQUEST command if a mount request for a manual library device cannot be satisfied. TSM cancels the request and the operation that required the volume fails.
The CANCEL REQUEST command must include the request identification number. This number is included in the request message, or it can be obtained by issuing a QUERY REQUEST command, as described in Displaying Information about Pending Mount Requests.
Administrators may occasionally remove media from a library device with the intention of storing or destroying the media. If, after the media has been removed, TSM requests the volumes, the administrator can cancel the request with the CANCEL REQUEST command. Administrators can ensure that the server does not try to mount the requested volume again by specifying the PERMANENT parameter to mark the volume as unavailable.
For most of the requests associated with automated library devices, the TSM CANCEL REQUEST command is not accepted by the server; an operator must perform a hardware or system action to cancel the requested mount.
Operators may occasionally need to check additional volumes into an automated library device, for example, when TSM cannot locate a volume it requires from the volume inventory. If the requested volume is available, place the volume in the device and check in the volume. See Checking Media into Automated Library Devices.
If the volume requested is unavailable (lost or destroyed):
If operators do not respond to check-in requests within the mount-wait period, TSM marks the volume as unavailable. The mount-wait period is set in the device class of the storage pool.
Administrators can issue the DISMOUNT VOLUME command to explicitly request that an idle volume be dismounted. After a volume becomes idle, it remains mounted for a time specified by the mount retention parameter for the device class. Using mount retention can reduce the access time if volumes are repeatedly used.
For information about setting mount retention times, see Mount Retention Period.
Operators must respond to messages requiring media to be manually ejected from REMOVABLEFILE device types, for example JAZ drive media and CDs. TSM then checks the drive every 7 seconds to see if the media has been ejected. A volume dismount is not considered complete until TSM detects that the media has been ejected from the drive or that different media has been inserted into the drive.